CELEBRATIONS have continued for the Claines-based trainer who saw his horse romp home to victory at the Grand National and city punters who cleared up at the bookies.

Glasses were raised throughout the night at the Mug House on Saturday where Dr Richard Newland and his family celebrated Pineau De Re’s win with almost 400 people and an open bar.

Dr Newland said he had been blown away by the support shown by everyone in Worcester and still has to reply to 300 text messages as well as field phone calls and people arriving unannounced at his stables in Egg Lane, Claines, to meet the Grand National winner.

It was not only Dr Newland who was left smiling as a spokesman for bookmaker William Hill said that Worcester had probably done the best in the country on the Grand National with people enjoying a flutter on a locally trained horse.

For 11-year-old Pineau De Re, celebrations were a little less extravagant but he had time to enjoy his favourite treat – apples.

Dr Newland said: “We had quite the celebration at The Mug House - I was blown away by the amount of people who turned up to celebrate with us.

“It was really nice to see a lot of local people come along.

“There was a fantastic atmosphere and just so many people coming up and shaking hands wanting their pictures taken.

“Everyone was saying how happy they were for us.

“I think people in Worcester have really taken an interest in our horses and got behind Pineau De Re.”

Confirming Dr Newland’s comments, the three main bookies - William Hill, Ladbrokes and Coral - all said Worcester punters had done well out of the race at Aintree on Saturday.

Nicola McGeady, Coral spokeswoman, said their Worcester shops had been hit hard.

She said: “With our shop just a mile and a half from the where Pineau De Re trains, there were a lot of bets from locals in the shop.

“Overall Pineau De Re was a victory for the bookies but in our Worcester shops, we were hit hard.

“We were knocked over with bets on him, with each-way stakes of £5 and £10 being placed in his favour - it was clear the locals of Worcester knew they have a winner on their hands.

“The shops were absolutely jam packed and with so many punters behind Pineau De Re, they raised the roof when he romped home to win the Grand National.”

David Williams, of Ladbrokes, said the 25-1 shot had generally been great news for the bookies but had not entirely slipped off the radar in the city.

“Loyal Worcester customers backed their local horse more keenly than anywhere else in the country and we found ourselves paying out to delighted fans of Dr Newland for most of the weekend.

“There was a tremendous buzz in our Worcester shops all weekend and the parties look set to continue.

“It’s cost us more than a few quid but we’re happy to be part of the local celebrations.”

Still exhausted from the weekend, Judy Allen, The Mug House’s landlady, said it was a fantastic and emotional evening.

“I’ve been here for 25 years and I never seen anything like it. Someone said they thought between 300 and 400 had shown up.

“It was fantastic to see him win, really emotional, I’m still quite emotional about it now.”

Having watched the race “screaming and shouting” with her son Russ in the kitchen of the 700-year-old pub, they took a phone call from Dr Newland’s daughter from Aintree asking them to get the Champagne on ice because they would be arriving to celebrate at about 8.45pm.

“They said they had about 30 people coming and we didn’t have any Champagne so I had to nip out and buy some.

“We had five of us working behind the bar and there isn’t that much room but we didn’t run out of anything.

“The brilliant thing was all our customers are so good that we had some helping out washing and collecting glasses to keep everyone going - it was amazing.

“Some people say it has put Claines on the map and I think when people think of Claines they often think of the church and the pub but now there is something else to add to that list.”

Ipsoregulated

This website and associated newspapers adhere to the Independent Press Standards Organisation's Editors' Code of Practice. If you have a complaint about the editorial content which relates to inaccuracy or intrusion, then please contact the editor here. If you are dissatisfied with the response provided you can contact IPSO here